Greatest Devil
ARC 2
Chapter 3: Riser
"So from now on, I'll be constantly patrolling Kuoh to make sure you are all behaving appropriately. Understand?"
Laverus' question was met with a round of nods from the Occult Research Club members, though Rias looked very annoyed.
"Issei Hyoudou." He then turned to the teen standing to the side. "I hope you understand that while your king did indeed need your strength, the way she attained your power seemed like she only wanted more power. As you were and still are a Japanese citizen, your life should have been protected by us, the Shinto Pantheon. For allowing the young Gremory to play with your life and reincarnate you without your say in the matter, you have our apologies."
"I didn't play with his life!" Rias yelled before Issei could respond. "I really do need him!"
Laverus glared at her. "Silence, young Gremory. I am talking to the recently-turned devil. Not to the spoiled descendant of Tair Gremory."
"I've had enough with you calling me spoiled!" Rias once again allowed a bit of her power to flow out of her threateningly. "What makes you think I'm spoiled at all?!"
"You never train, that's one thing. You've always been given this and that, while others, especially the descendant of Zekram Bael, work hard to even be looked at. Your brother puts you before even his people, which is not something a leader does. Quite frankly, I don't trust you. Do you want to know why?"
He then took a glance at her peerage, who were outright glaring at him.
"Look at them all." He motioned to them. "We'll start with Kiba Yuuto. He was still in church territory when you appeared. What were you doing there with ZERO guards? Surely the little sister of 'Lucifer' couldn't have just up and disappeared by herself with no protection Then there's the hybrid in the room. How did you just appear in that forest as such a young child? Once again, with no guards. The half vampire? Same story. Whitey over there was just dropped on you. And apparently, the ESTEEMED and WISE devil kings just took her testimony over actually INVESTIGATING why Kuroka had killed her master. Even the 'smartest' devil king didn't object to exterminating a race that was not involved in the whole incident. I mean, she was a reincarnated DEVIL, therefore, she was under THEIR jurisdiction."
He then took a few deep breaths. "What I'm trying to say here, is that your whole peerage and their reincarnation circumstances are suspicious, making you seem like some hero or savior."
By now, Rias' peerage was completely outraged by this man. He just questioned whether their king's loyalty and love was only for her convenience.
Was it? No. Her love and care was too much to be false. She genuinely cared for them- no doubt about that.
"That's why I believe you're spoiled. Everything you wanted, you got it. You got your peerage because that boy had pointed you in their directions. He knew what was happening to them, but didn't bother trying to help. Instead, you were the one that benefited. What a fool he was. Ever since the wars have ended, what has he done for the devils? Laze around, dote on his sister and cater to her every need? He never should have been a king. Honestly, the original Lucifer would be better than him. At least he made the devil race feared."
Rias gritted her teeth and prepared her power of destruction, coating her hands in the powerful yet highly unstable energy. How dare this man insult her brother!
Spurred on by their king's action, the rest of the peerage, save for Issei, readied for battle. The brown haired teen didn't know what to do.
Was what Laverus saying true? Was his king really just a spoiled person? He was, after all, recently involved in what could possibly a scheme of hers.
As a reincarnated devil, it was his obligation to fight- if necessary- alongside his master, but as a person, is it really right to hurt someone who hadn't done anything wrong?
Before the situation could escalate, however, Laverus sighed. "Sorry about that." He offered. "I've been meaning to get that off my chest for a long, long time now."
Rias didn't look convinced by his apology, but after a moment of consideration, she let him off. He had almost killed Serafall Leviathan, the strongest female devil, after all, so she knew not to mess with him.
Sure, he might have just finished off what another had started in regards to trying to defeat the female devil king, but to have even gotten close to her is worthy of at least some praise.
She dissipated her power of destruction and sighed. "It's fine, I guess. But I'll have you know that I have never reincarnated any of my servants with the intention of exploiting their power for myself."
Laverus' eyes shot to Issei, knowing that Rias could see the movement of his ocular organs, before he nodded.
"If you don't do this again, then you'll be fine. Just remember, I don't give third chances. You understand, don't you?"
The male devil's eyes narrowed a little, his tone taking a bit of a sharper edge to it, enhancing his intimidation on the young heiress and her peerage.
"Well Issei Hyoudou?" Laverus then turned back to the young devil, his relaxed personality once again taking hold. "I want you to make sure you're resolute about your decision. Will you serve Rias Gremory, the heiress of the Gremory clan?"
Issei frowned as he thought on the question. Sure, she reincarnated him without his say, but is he really that upset about his new life?
Yes, serving someone is naturally a repulsive thought- but Rias seemed like she treated her servants nicely. After all, Akeno, Kiba and Koneko only really reacted when Laverus questioned Rias' love and care towards her peerage.
That meant that he was saying something that was, beyond a shadow of a doubt, false about her- so she really must be a nice master.
But then again, allowing someone to die simply because she needed them was just wrong. She could have just approached him, explained her situation and ask for his allegiance.
She didn't do that. Instead, she waited until his life was virtually unsavable by human standards before she stepped in and 'saved' him. In fact, she may have forcefully enslaved him if he didn't want to be a reincarnated devil.
But did he really hate that? Despite what she did, she technically told the truth. Devils can have harems if they want. Sure, she left out the fact that it was actually quite difficult to get to High Class when starting at the very bottom, but then again- he didn't ask.
Rias and the other members of her peerage looked on expectantly and even a little anxiously. Rias herself knew that if Issei were to raise an objection on being a member of her household, she may not have a chance out of that.
After another minute of heavy thinking, Issei finally nodded resolutely. "I… will continue to be a member of senpai's peerage. She seems like a nice master, and… I guess it's just in my nature to help out those in need."
"Issei…" Rias breathed out gratefully with a smile that was mimicked by the rest of the peerage.
"Alright then." Laverus nodded. "Though you should know something about that… goal of yours. The pure blood devils will do virtually everything in their power to make sure you never get to high class status. But I can tell- you will let nothing get in your way of your dream. Maybe you can change them. I wish you luck. Well then, I'll be off. Remember; behave."
He then stood up and once again left in a flash of light, leaving the occult research club to truly welcome their new member.
One Day Later…
Laverus zoomed through the air.
His body, once it was turned into water, completely vaporized itself to be able to move unseen.
Once he was within Kuoh Academy grounds, specific molecules in the air quickly formed together, and through chemistry, turned into a human body-sized blob of water.
Laverus' consciousness ordered his liquified body to smash into the clubroom of the Occult Research Club through the window.
As the glass shattered- catching everyone inside off-guard- the water then transformed back into their original state; Laverus' solid body.
He landed on one knee and a hand on the ground. His hair shadowed his eyes, which, somehow, made him look even more threatening and intimidating.
"As you can see, I am very agitated right now." He growled out slowly. "You spoiled devils seem to have a very poor memory. That, or you somehow can't follow instructions because you are such a goddess that you should never be told what to do. Gremory, you make me absolutely sick."
He stood up and flared off his power, which was much more than enough to make everyone in the room- sans a grey-haired maid- take a few steps back.
"Not only did you completely disregard one of the new terms that we had set, you've brought in a high class devil- a Phenex- and Grayfia Lucifuge- an ultimate class devil."
Sharp water spears flared to life around Laverus' body, pointing directly at every other devil in the room. The water flowed back and forth, yet securely kept its shape.
"So tell me, Lucifuge." He narrowed his eyes dangerously at Grayfia. "What does the lapdog of the esteemed Crimson Satan want here?
Trying to take over?"
"N-no, I-"
"Hey, who are you?! Rudely barging into a very important meeting, as expected of a low class worm!"
While Grayfia- the maid- made to reply politely, a blonde-haired man- who Laverus identified as Riser Phenex- rudely yelled at the ancient devil.
Grayfia widened her eyes in fear, something that Rias and her peerage caught. "Lord Riser, I ask that you-"
"You have no place in here, get out!" The blonde Phenex devil ignored her and prepared a ball of fire in his palm. "Leave now, and Riser might consider letting even a pathetic fool like you live!"
"Lord Riser!" Grayfia snapped angrily. "You will not threaten this man- he is entire leagues above you!"
"What?! Are you saying that this piece of trash is stronger than the great Riser?" Riser's eyebrows wrinkled in disgust at the mere thought of it.
"Believe me lord Riser, you cannot even get close to him." The ultimate class devil then turned to Laverus, who was contemplating whether he should eradicate a Phenex or not, and bowed deeply. "My deepest apologies for his behaviour, milord. Please forgive our intrusion."
Riser, Rias and her peerage- excluding Issei- noted the way she spoke to him. Not even Sirzechs was treated with this much respect.
"I don't care how he talks to me." A sphere of water appeared beside the blue haired devil. "I want to know why you are both here, without our permission."
"Lord Riser is here to discuss a marriage contract with lady Rias. Due to his arrogance and short temper, my king sent me here as a mediator in case they resort to violence to sort out their disagreements. Once again, I deeply apologise for not alerting you beforehand, milord. I'll make sure it won't happen again."
Throughout her explanation, Grayfia did not once raise her head from looking at the ground in front of her, nor did she move.
"Fine then." Laverus sighed, dissipating the water he created. "Be at ease. Just make sure that you get my permission next time, or I will exterminate stray devils."
As Rias watched on anxiously, Riser snorted. "Since when did Riser need anyone's permission to enter one of our lands, low class scum?" He asked. "Quite frankly, Riser's surprised we haven't taken over Japan yet. We could give all the women a good time." He finished with a smirk.
"Lord Riser!"
Laverus ignored Grayfia, glaring at Riser. "You'd do well to watch your tongue, descendent of Roza Phenex. Your words could cause a war with us."
"That is enough!" The queen of Sirzechs flared her power, reminding most of the devils why she is the strongest queen. "Lord Riser, you will refrain from calling milord a 'low class scum'. Milord, please do not threaten one of our own or I'll have no choice but to step in."
"Of course." Riser grumbled, reluctantly dissipating the ball of fire in his palm. "If the strongest queen says so, even the great Riser will back down."
Laverus, though, wasn't so quick to back off. "You must be disillusioned to think that you could force me to do anything, girl. Remember, you are one of my servants first and foremost, not the other way around. Or…"
His lips then rose up into a small, yet cruel smile. "Do you think you could best me in battle, Lucifuge? Surely you haven't forgotten how badly I tore apart my enemies?"
Grayfia stiffened, her eyes losing their sharpness and replaced with nervousness. Laverus, who saw this up close, widened his smile.
"Good." He nodded. "You haven't forgotten. If that is the case, then you'd do well to watch what you say to your master, little girl."
"Yes, milord."
"U-umm, Grayfia." Rias, seeing a lull in their conversation, spoke up. "Do you know him as well? What's all this about you being his servant?"
Before Grayfia could reply, Riser once again cut in. "Probably some lie to make himself look powerful."
"Silence, child, before I eradicate both you and your pathetic family. The only saving grace you arrogant birds have are Roza and your Phoenix Tears."
Laverus then put a finger to his chin innocently. "You know, now that I think about it, your little sister could be incredibly useful to us. Breeding Ravel Phenex, a prominent member of the Phenex clan with the ability to use senjutsu. Maybe I'll take her myself."
"How dare you!" Without thinking, Riser let loose a fireball at Laverus. "I'll teach you about even thinking of taking someone from the proud Phenex clan!"
The fireball completely evaporated before it got past two feet as everyone felt the temperature decrease to levels reaching absolute zero, though only for a split second.
"Pathetic." Laverus scoffed. "Roza's flames are godlike when compared to the pitiful embers that you call 'fire'."
"Why you little-!"
"Enough, lord Riser! I will not tolerate anymore of your arrogance! Continue your course of action, and I will step in against you." This time, Grayfia bursted more of her power to further reinforce her threat.
After seeing that he stepped down, albeit angrily, Grayfia toned down her power and turned to Rias. "To answer your question, lady Rias, I was indeed lord Laverus' servant for the better half of the Devil Civil War."
"You really were… his servant?" Issei, despite the situation, couldn't help but let a small trail of blood escape his nose at the thought of… less than savoury images entering his mind.
"I was, yes." Grayfia nodded, acting completely oblivious to what she knew Issei was thinking. "Though I didn't do much for him. All I did was teach him everything I knew about ice magic."
"But wait." Rias frowned in thought. "I thought that the Lucifuge clan only served the Lucifer family. So does that mean…"
As she trailed off, she fearfully gazed at Laverus.
Seeing her freightful stare, Laverus shook his head. "While Laverus Lucifer does have something of a ring to it, I am not a Lucifer. A Lucifer did use her to bribe me into his side, however. Seeing that ice is a domain of water, I figured that she could help me in that field. I myself thought that being able to use ice magic would benefit me in the long run."
Rias breathed a sigh of relief knowing that Laverus isn't a descendent of a devil king. Especially not a Lucifer. Then again, she'd have known if Lucifer- the Morning Star- had another son.
"Of course." Riser scoffed. "Probably not a descendent of anyone noteworthy. Even if you are, Riser bets you're just some backwater loser."
"Really?" Laverus rose a curious eyebrow. "You think I'm just a 'backwater loser'?"
Grayfia regained her strict face, and made to silence Riser before he said anything that could damn the devil race, but the look Laverus sent her told her not to step in.
"What else would you be?" The Phenex asked rhetorically. "Riser has no idea who you are until you rudely barged in here. Surely Riser would have heard of you by now if you were a master of the strongest queen at one point."
He then smirked arrogantly- his signature smirk. "Who's to say this isn't just some farce? There is honestly no way Riser would not have heard of you if you were as powerful as you make yourself out to be."
Laverus once again smiled cruelly, which was never a good sign. In Grayfia's head, alarm bells were ringing and red flags were being raised.
"If you need to demonstration of my abilities, then come at me. Show me just how 'powerful' the Phenex clan has become after Roza gave up her position as the matriarch of the Phenex."
Riser looked towards Grayfia, who- after a cautious glance at her former master- nodded slowly.
Seeing that, Riser unleashed his full power, wings of fire bursting to life behind him. This man was just asking for it, after all.
"Haaaaaa!" With a battle cry, he burst towards the cloak-wearing devil with a flame coated fist.
But before he could even see what had happened in a mere split second, he was on the ground, his torso separated from his lower body.
Everyone in the room- excluding Grayfia, who had been expecting this result- looked stupefied at how quickly Riser was brought down. They couldn't even see what he did!
Riser himself was gaping his mouth as he lied on the ground. He just disappeared, and the next thing he knew, his body- or at least half of it- was just lying on the ground.
He gritted his teeth- already in annoyance- and after a few seconds, his lower body was regenerated in a blaze of flames.
Off to the side, Issei widened his eyes at the scene. Was this how powerful devils could be?!
He knew the answer. No.
Devils could be far more powerful than this. Laverus did mention that someone named Roza was much more powerful, if the comparison of flames was anything to go by.
Issei guessed it was some hot woman he could add to his harem when he got his peerage.
But back to the point- if this is how devils fight, then he clearly overestimated himself.
When that douchebag just appeared, he knew right from the get-go that the blonde devil was the source of Rias' problems and her desperation for strength.
He thought that if he just beat Riser black and blue, all the problems would be solved. Rias would be happy, and everyone would live happily ever after.
But if he could regenerate like this, then…
After finally getting up, Riser threw a massive ball of the hottest flames he could muster. He wasn't going to fight close and personal if Laverus could do whatever it is he did to him.
But once again, with another massive drop in temperature, it just evaporated into the air.
Laverus then took his turn- speeding towards Riser at speeds not even Grayfia could follow, and sliced off Riser's arm with a blade of water that he had formed.
Clicking his tongue, Riser ignored the pain in his right arm- it would just regenerate anyway- and backed away a few steps from Laverus, who calmly created a sphere of water in an open palm, and- almost lazily- threw it at the blonde devil.
In response, Riser once again created the biggest and hottest fireball he could, and threw it towards Laverus.
Instead of evaporating the water like he thought would happen, however, Riser's fire just parted way for the small sphere of water, which was now formed into a dagger.
A dagger that cleanly sliced through his left arm.
Riser growled at the pain and loss of his left arm, but figured that his other arm would have regenerated by now.
He raised his right arm, but then realised the lack of any movement. He looked down at his right shoulder in confusion, and widened his eyes seeing nothing but an empty stump in the place of his arm.
There was no fire, no regeneration. It was as if…
"Finally figured it out?" Laverus goaded. "Yes. I nullified your Phenex regeneration. You are nothing in the face of true power, young Phenex. Not even Roza- the strongest Phenex- was a threat to me. What could you possibly do against me?"
"You bastard!" The armless devil screamed. "What did you do to me?! How did you stop the great regeneration of the Phenex clan?!"
"I won't tell you, but I'll give you a hint." Laverus smiled victoriously. "It's a Longinus."
Everyone else in the room widened their eyes. Laverus was a full-blooded devil, wasn't he? How can he have a sacred gear?! Least of all a Longinus class sacred gear?!
"But that's impossible! If you aren't a human, then you can't have a sacred gear!" Rias was the only person who vocalised the thought. "Are you a half-human?!"
"Why would I just tell you? That's personal information you're asking for."
Rias, at this point, knew that one wrong word or demand to him could legitimately lead to death, so she she didn't bother trying to press on.
Even she couldn't beat Riser. If this man could so easily render her fiance this powerless, there would be no chance she could fight him.
Laverus then turned to the still armless Riser. "Now then, young Phenex. Do you still think I'm just some backwater loser?"
There was no answer. Riser wouldn't risk losing another limb. If Laverus could stop regeneration of the arms, who's to say he can't go another step further and legitimately kill him?
"I can still see you doubt I'm a noble." Laverus smirked, seeing Riser stiffen. "So I guess you can all learn my true name. Lucifuge. Tell them."
"Understood." Grayfia nodded and took a deep breath.
"This man's name is Laverus Leviathan, son of the original devil king Leviathan. The first and most powerful Super Devil, and the strongest devil to have ever existed. He is rumoured to have regeneration capabilities surpassing even the Phenex clan."
As everyone else in the room widened their eyes, one thought rang out simultaneously in all of their minds.
'Holy crap.'
"That is not all." Grayfia continued. "He fought alongside the devils in the Great War, and is known as the Destroyer of Excalibur and the Slayer of-"
"Actually, don't tell them that one yet." Laverus cut in. "They're not ready to know that. Anyway, you all now know who I am." He narrowed his eyes a little. "If you all know, then I expect you all to shut up and take my presence here seriously. Especially you, descendent of Roza."
"Tch."
"W-wait!" Rias yelled with a disbelieving tone. "Strongest devil ever?! Are you saying that he's stronger than my brother?!"
"He is." Grayfia nodded. "In fact, it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to say that he may be able to fight and destroy the entire devil faction by himself."
Laverus shook his head. "No, that's too much of an exaggeration. Maybe half of the purebloods alongside the four current devil kings and their peerages, I'm confident enough. But the rest are out of my league."
Rias was still very disbelieving of the fact that her brother wasn't the strongest devil in history. That was what she was basically conditioned to believe, after all.
But why did she have no idea who Laverus is? Was it because he was a member of the original Leviathan family, who were her brother's enemies at one point?
But even still she would have at least a name. After all, she knew who Rizevim Livan Lucifer is, and she also knew who Katerea Leviathan is. Why not Laverus Leviathan as well?
"So, wait, is this guy really that much of a big-shot?" Issei asked.
As a newly reincarnated devil who hadn't been taught anything by his master, Laverus supposed that it was a reasonable question.
"It is." Kiba spoke for the first time since the Leviathan arrived. "That puts him above even the four original devil kings, who were powerful enough to fight against God, at least for some time."
"There is no doubt he is powerful." Akeno nodded. "So much so, in fact, that even Grayfia-san, known as the 'Strongest Queen', may not be able to hold a candle to him since he is a Super Devil."
"Her position as the strongest queen is now debatable." Laverus glanced at Grayfia to see her reaction, one of curiosity. "I have used my queen piece to reincarnate someone very well known in the supernatural world, someone on par with a Heavenly Dragon."
He smirked and looked over to Issei. "You know who I'm talking about, don't you, Ddraig? I know you can hear me."
The Boosted Gear formed on Issei's left forearm. "To think that you're still alive. I thought I burned you to death, Leviathan."
The Red Dragon Emperor's deep and intimidating voice rang out from the green jewel on the gauntlet.
"You did indeed. I was killed by your fire." Laverus nodded. "But I was able to turn my body into water before I died. Before your fire spread, I separated the burning water from the untouched ones, and reformed my body through them. So thank you, I found out about something else I could do."
"Oi, red dragon dude." Issei tapped the jewel with a finger. "Is this guy really that strong?"
"He is." The red dragon replied. "He was able to fight me for quite a while, before I finally caught him in my flames. I didn't think he survived. To answer your question, Leviathan, I do think I know who you're referring to. How did you convince him?"
In the background, Grayfia stiffened as she suddenly realised who the two powerful beings were talking about.
It would seem that the Shinto-Youkai Alliance had now gotten even stronger.
Laverus shrugged. "He and I fought, I won, he wanted to get stronger and saw me as a worthy rival. That's all there is to it."
"You won?" Ddraig's voice was laced with thinly veiled surprise and curiosity. "You barely stood your ground against me, so how did you defeat him? He's rumored to be as strong as Albion and I in our primes."
"That was before I learned ice magic, before I learned I could basically cheat death, before I learned senjutsu, youjutsu and touki. I'm quite confident I can at least give you a good fight if we were to battle once again. Maybe I would even defeat you."
"Don't get ahead of yourself, Leviathan."
"You can use senjutsu? How?!" Koneko asked with widened eyes.
"Quite simple, kitten." The son of Leviathan waved his hand. "Kuro taught me, Yasaka taught me, and Monkey taught me. When you have ultimate class devil equivalents teaching you different aspects of senjutsu, it's quite easy to grasp."
"You shouldn't use it!" She exclaimed fearfully. "It drives you insane!"
Laverus sighed, shaking his head. "At least research something before you end up hurting yourself. One of these days, you'll find that you can't grow any stronger without it, kitten."
His words drove the youngest person in the room to silence. Probably because Koneko knew that he was right.
Issei was the only person in the room who was confused, while Rias didn't like the way Laverus just lectured her rook on her greatest fear. She already knew better than to voice anything, though.
"In any case, you'd better make sure this does not happen again." The second Leviathan glared at Grayfia. "Otherwise, you stray devils will be eliminated without mercy. Tell that to your 'master', girl, or even that false Lucifer will die to my hand."
"Yes, milord. I promise it will not happen again."
"Yeah, I haven't heard that one before." Laverus drawled sarcastically. "Next time, there won't be second chances. Just make sure you remember that."
Without waiting for a reply, the second Leviathan then turned his body into water and flew out of the broken window.
…
Grayfia breathed a sigh of relief when she knew it was safe to do so, before quickly glaring at Riser.
"Lord Riser, your words could have sparked a war. A war that we could not have won, leading to our extinction. No amount of my king's Ruin the Extinct could take down lord Laverus. Please reflect on your behaviour today."
Riser clicked his tongue, but nodded.
"Well damn." Issei drawled. "What was his title again? Destroyer of Excalibur? That guy sounds hardcore."
"He is." Kiba frowned. "Excalibur is the ultimate weapon against devils. For him to have actually destroyed it is proof that he is worthy of the title 'Super Devil'."
As someone with a bad history with the Excaliburs, Kiba respected Laverus for his role in the destruction of the original blade.
"What's a Super Devil anyway?"
"Devils that have powers far surpassing the original devil kings." Rias answered. "They are so powerful, in fact, that they surpass being called 'devil'. I thought that there were only three Super Devils- my brother, his best friend and a descendent of the original Lucifer."
"Partner, I suggest that you don't make an enemy out of that devil." Ddraig's voice rang out again. "I could sense his power. Forget being a Super Devil, he's surpassed even that level of power."
Issei looked at his left arm. "Woah dude, you serious?"
"I am. I won't lie- as much as it damages my pride, I don't think even in my prime I could kill him now."
"Even the Red Dragon Emperor himself…" Rias whispered. "He's surpassed even a Super Devil?"
"Indeed. It's no exaggeration to say that he's now the Greatest Devil."
Author Notes:
I want to get something straight here; I DO NOT hate Rias as a character.
In fact, I think that she's a perfect example of a 'real' character is and what a realistic character is supposed to entail.
Flawed, imperfect, and with shortcomings. Those flaws are what I believe make a good character.
So why does Laverus seem to not have any flaws? Truth is- he does. You just haven't seen them yet. Scratch that, you've seen one of them.
He's a cruel bastard, despite how relaxed he seems. Kunou is scared to death of him when all he does is frown. His experiments would make even Rizevim stay away from him, and that is saying something.
One of those flaws is how he very rarely gives second chances. In fact, he mercilessly eradicates any devil in Japan without permission- men, women, even children- without hearing about why they came in the first place.
He gets very angry when people just disregard his warnings (e.g. Rias not alerting him before Riser and Grayfia came to Kuoh) despite him not really stressing out how rarely he gives those warnings/second chances and not making consequences clear enough for others to obey.
He didn't give Rias a second chance in this chapter- Grayfia understood that he gave all of devil-kind a second chance, and he won't be giving a third to anyone.
When he does get angry, he is very quick to get into a fight- Riser vs Laverus is the example of this- and he hides that intention to 'get even' by covering it with a reason (in this chapter, that reason would be Riser insulting him and taking his power too lightly).
The truth of the matter is that he only wanted to demonstrate his strength and make everyone else in the room fear him- which is why he gave out the fact that he has a Longinus Sacred Gear.
He loves to rant on and on- kind of in his own world when he does- whenever he gets the chance to explain why he dislikes the current devil kings, or about a dislike of his- e.g. Rias.
He is also a hypocrite. He slayed innocent devils in the underworld at one point as retribution for the nekomata and nekoshou. I mean, doesn't that raise any eyebrows? He was basically no better than them.
He revived the killed nekomata/nekoshou, so isn't that enough? Apparently not, since he butchered a portion of the devil population.
Yeah. He revived the killed nekomata/nekoshou, using the bodies of the devils he had killed personally, when he could have created bodies from water as the alternative.
So now, you know a few flaws in Laverus' character.
And before any of you say that giving Laverus a longinus is A; Too OP or B; doesn't make sense- let me clear that up for you:
A; You kinda signed up for this when you read a story with the Overpowered!Godlike!OC tag.
B; This takes a bit more explaining. We'll just say he came into contact with the principle of life, how the soul is created, etc. and found a way- using that knowledge- to be able to tie a sacred gear to his own soul.
I wonder which longinus gives its user the ability to come into contact with the principle of life…
Look, I don't really know what the Sephiroth Graal can actually do aside from reviving the dead and spamming emails to the user's brain and forcing said brain to read said emails.
Laverus, since he is so strong and is mentally strengthened, was able to survive. I don't read the manga or the light novel (sorry, hardcore fans) and I was only spoiled- from my friends and my own reading of other fanfiction.
So I kinda just made up a few abilities that one could potentially come up with using the knowledge from the Holy Grail as well as reading up on Valerie Tepes' abilities in the wiki.
In my headcanon, it's the reason why Sephiroth Graal is considered a longinus (aside from being able to revive the dead).
To Sovereign2808 and Mythic Imagination:
One thing I forgot to clear up; the Shinto Pantheon and Youkai Faction kinda did get an advantage over the devils by giving them Kuoh.
Laverus' reasoning (this is why):
"If we give Kuoh to the little sisters of not one, but two devil kings, just imagine if war breaks out between the devils and our joint-faction. We could kidnap those two, and the devils will be at our mercy. If not, well then they'll lose two of the Rookies Four; they'd be pretty weakened, don't you think? Besides, with half of the four devil kings being siscons, the same ones whose sisters we'd be taking away, would they really fight against us? I myself guarantee that they will be taken as prisoners and bargaining chips in the event that war breaks out. I vote to allow the two governance of Kuoh town."
Now you know why they allowed Rias and Sona to govern Kuoh. Laverus' opinion and advice is taken pretty highly in the Shinto-Youkai Alliance.
Now, something you should know- not a lot of people among the youkais actually know how powerful Laverus is. Only Kuroka, Kunou, Yasaka and the official council are aware.
Most of the younger ones just think that he's an ancient youkai, but that's incorrect. They know that he's a valued member of the youkai, but not that he's the official advisor, secretary and personal bodyguard of their queen.
Kunou, on the other hand, is a bit complicated in regards to relationship with Laverus. More on that next chapter.
Anyway, Laverus is the reason why the Shinto and Youkai have an alliance (now called the Shinto-Youkai Alliance). He's affiliated with the Youkai Faction, but has such good relationships with the Shinto Pantheon, and his diplomatic skills gave the two a very powerful alliance.
Remember- he's a Leviathan. I'd like to think that even before the Great War, Leviathan was in charge of foreign affairs, so he'd have taught Laverus about diplomacy. Since he also wanted to overtake Lucifer as well, he also taught him everything he knew about politics, having his son study extensively in that field.
On a side note, Riser regenerated his arms about five days after this day ended.
(This was a pretty big author's note…)
Hope you enjoy! Thank you for reading~